In 1990, a group of sixteen women from Lalitpur, Nepal started collecting waste from the neighboring 50
households. This activity lead to the establishment of the organization called Women Environment
Protection Committee (WEPCO). By 2004, with financing from SGP, waste collection expanded to 1000
households.

The activity was able to adopt a strategy in managing waste at source (within households) and further
increase the number of households involved.

WEPCO demonstrated that the conversion of waste to biogas is an innovative way to reduce waste and
generate energy, thereby reducing demand. This community-based activity has not only provided
environmental benefits but socio-economic as well: awareness-raising and training, particularly young
people and generation of income, improving the livelihood of the members of the community.

The activity finished in March 2006.

Mitigation / Adaptation

Social and environmental benefits

Potential for scaling-up and replication

WEPCO collected 6.5 tonnes of waste daily whereas 0.5 tonnes of waste is managed at household level.
Out of 6.5 tonnes, 4 tonnes of waste are dumped in the municipal container and 2 tonnes of waste are
used to produce compost. The remaining 500 Kg of waste, which is plastic (300 Kg) and metal (200 Kg),
are recycled. Thus, each year the activity recycled 912.5 tonnes of solid waste. In addition, WEPCO
also collected 72 tonnes of waste paper per year, of which 70% are recycled. Therefore, the activity
was able to manage 962.9 tonnes of waste per annum which would otherwise go to the landfill
sites.

The successful demonstration of biogas production from waste and participation of major stakeholders
such as students, private sector (through green circle) and households resulted to a daily reduction
of 3 tonnes of waste, making WEPCO the lead training and resource centre for solid waste management.
More than 50,000 visitors have visited the demonstration site since its establishment. 43 eco-clubs
at different schools compromising more than 500 students have been established. Likewise, a biogas
plant established in Budhanilkantha School is being used in cooking food for students and staff, and
has cut down their dependence on liquefied petroleum gas significantly.

The activity created jobs: 27 full time staff and 9 part time staff,
including 3 full time and 5 part time experts in solid waste management and biogas construction.
WEPCO generates a monthly average income of USD 3,000 taken from membership fees; sales from
recycling and composting; and renting the training premises. This amount is used for personnel and
other operations.

Prior to using biogas, the Shenchen Monastery, used firewood to cook
food and spent nearly USD 1,000 per month. The firewood was later replaced by liquefied petroleum
gas, diesel and kerosene boilers and biogas, of which the monastery was able to save 50% of its
expenditure. Calculating the amount invested on the biogas plant vis-a-visa the cost of liquefied
petroleum gas, a return of investment on the biogas plant is received within a span of 9 months.
Thus, the benefits exceed the cost.

Replication of this activity is very easy. Land for composting and
permission from the government to manage the waste are prerequisites for the activity, in addition to
sensitizing local communities to segregate waste at household level. Once these basic requirements
are fulfilled, it is possible to replicate the activity in different context and
country.

An additional component necessary in successful replication is the
planning for construction of the biogas plant: size should be considered depending on the amount of
waste, purpose of cooking (commercial or household only), and user expectation.

The biogas model in the WEPCO premises has been seen due to the large
number of visitors that WEPCO receives annually: study tour, training, Eco Clubs, etc. So far, the
biogas plant from solid waste has been replicated in 20 other sites. Furthermore, WEPCO was able to
mobilize participation from 892 women in 30 groups in various parts of the country.